Interview: EA SPORTS Football Club

Since the grand reveal of the all new EA SPORTS Football Club at E3 details have been a tad scarce on FIFA 12′s newest addition, so we set about changing that with an exclusive FSB interview. A few weeks ago we managed to grab some time with the EA Football Live team out in Canada and they kindly obliged to answer some of our questions. There were a few questions which they sadly couldn’t answer, but I’ve left those in as the replies give a hint at what we can expect further down the line.

[FSB] How does the tracking of EASFC stats between friends work, which features/statistics will actually be compared?

We’ll be revealing more information on the functionality and features of the Leaderboards as we approach launch.

[FSB] It’s been mentioned that “real world storylines” will drive EASFC, how does this differ to the Scenario mode seen in FIFA World Cup 2010?

Challenges will be similar to the Scenario Mode in FIFA World Cup 2010 in that they follow real-world storylines, but as EA SPORTS Football Club will run season-long and cover the entire world of football, there will be a greater volume of challenges and timely storylines delivered by a dedicated EAS Live Team working within our FIFA dev organization.

[FSB] How frequently will real world story challenges be updated?

We haven’t set the exact number of challenges that will be injected into the game at launch, but will be able to speak about this closer to launch. Our plan is to have challenges based on key matches in a season available hours after matches finish, so ‘Manchester United just beat Chelsea to all-but guarantee the Premier League title….can you help Chelsea avenge this defeat?’

[FSB] Will you receive notifications when friends beat your scores in EASFC challenges?

Performances are recorded and uploaded to Friends and Global Leaderboards on easportsfootball.com for you and your friends to check. You can also share results and your progress on sites like Facebook.

[FSB] Will EASFC track and compare the stats of all the game modes in FIFA 12 or is it an individual mode of its own?

It’s not an individual mode. It’s a live service that will track your progress at all times whether you’re online or playing against the CPU.

[FSB] Is there any social media integration with Facebook and or Twitter?

Yes, you’ll be able to share your progress and achievements on social networking channels.

[FSB] How will EASFC make the FIFA experience “persistent”?

In a few different ways:

EA SPORTS Football Club will be a connected service that continues on into future FIFA titles. Our vision for the future is that whenever you play, and whatever you play on, you’ll be earning rewards and achievements that fuel your one single identity …across platforms and through the years.

It will also be persistent through its existence across our website easportsfootball.com and multiple platforms – Xbox 360, PS3 and PC for FIFA 12, with a vision to connect all the FIFA experiences our fans enjoy on all platforms.

Your performance will be tracked both online and offline.

[FSB] Will you have the ability to change your favourite club once selected?

We’re not revealing the deeper feature set on Support Your Club until we get a bit closer to launch.

[FSB] What happens to EASFC once the football season is over? Will challenges and club battles continue?

We haven’t finalised our plans for EASFC out-of-season yet. But the football calendar runs pretty much 12 months a year and there’s always activities and challenges being generated by the real world of the sport.

[FSB] Will EASFC allow you to send challenges to friends the same way Autolog does in NFS: Hot Pursuit?

That’s a good question for later this year. We will be revealing lots more information on Challenges as we get closer to launch.

Huge thanks to the EA Football Live Team for taking the time to answer our questions and also to European FIFA Community Manager, Alistair Reid who helped out massively.

David Bryant is a Senior Editor of FIFASoccerBlog.com and a devout Manchester United fan. He likes Career Mode, Jack Daniels and long windy walks. He dislikes Assisted passing and lazy writing. Oh and he's the proud father of twin boys.

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@pug probably because this interview is specifically about EASFC and that Career Mode info isn’t coming until July.

http://www.fvpa.co.uk Spike Chapman (BigZombieMonkey)

Sounds pretty interesting, not sure how much I’ll use it though as I imagine the majority of the stories will all be on top clubs and not the teams I’m more interested in.

theirfan38

I can’t stand anymore with their f…. premier league…always taking teams exemple with manchester or chelsea or (kidds from) arsenal…guys there are other leagues you know???what about taking exemple from milanvs inter, or barcavs real or bayern munchenvs dortmund…no always their f… (tactical/strategy miss)english premiere league

RedAge

PES 2012 looks awesome than FIFA 2012.Someone on twitter has said that PES has a mode called “Football life”.This drives me crazy.These are the things i was crying for years to see in FIFA but PES has understood what football fans need in a footy game.I sick of the same bullsh!t gameplay changes every year in FIFA.This time i am going to get PES2012 for sure.This is not even a joke.Atleast Konami is giving something worthy for the money we give in,not like EA who just have too many Mouth pieces to suck people into it.When was the last time FIFA has concentrated in other departments other than gameplay?Now they shitting around this EA SFC.TBH I am not at all impressed with it.Is this EA SFC very important when there are loads of bugs and other things like AI,crowds,career mode not yet fixed.

RedAge

PES 2012 looks awesome than FIFA 2012.Someone on twitter has said that PES has a mode called “Football life”.This drives me crazy.These are the things i was crying for years to see in FIFA but PES has understood what football fans need in a footy game.I am sick of the same bullsh!t gameplay changes every year in FIFA.This time i am going to get PES2012 for sure.This is not even a joke.Atleast Konami is giving something worthy for the money we give in,not like EA who just have too many Mouth pieces to suck people into it.When was the last time FIFA has concentrated in other departments other than gameplay?Now they are shitting around this EA SFC.TBH I am not at all impressed with it.Is this EA SFC very important when there are loads of bugs and other things like AI,crowds,career mode not yet fixed.

Guilherme

To the FSB guys, can you make sure that you ask EA about Career/BaP modes and transfer updates when you get the chance? Career/BaP is a topic beaten to death here (but not approached by EA) however transfers… there usually are quite a few transfers that go on in February-April that FIFA doesn’t bother updating beyond their winter transfers, leaving the game quite outdated.

Nick

guys wondering about career mode. you most likely wont hear anything till late july or early august. pretty sure last year Gamescon was the “real” launch point for fifa. trust me i play the mode the most, still playing fifa 11 cm till this day but the info will come closer to launch

Andrey

FSB, will you be asking EA about details on the FIFA Pro Club mode (one of the most popular game modes in the game) in FIFA 12?

Coyoteman

@redage: kill your self bro. :P

kevin

I think it’s about time EA stop bragging over that stupid Football Club feature. They should start telling people what’s going on with Career mode, improvements in graphics, and other things related to the offline game.

David Bryant

Career Mode information will be coming early July guys so really not long now at all. Plus we have a big CM surprise to reveal too….

Si

Redage what the hell are you on about. No details have even been released about pes2012′s ‘football life’ so how do you know if its a mode you wanted, or if its actually any good?

Guilherme

@David Bryant:

Careful with the CM surprise, I do not wish to get too excited and buy FIFA too early :P.

Shamear

@David Bryant Big surprise in CM? Can’t wait! :D

http://www.fifasoccerblog.com Aykut Fischer

hey please fifa put young football players in please please put under 17 internationel players in please look them up and put them in fifa 12 because i always have to creat them all in fifa 11 takes way too long please put the under 27 players in please for eg.(gerard deulofeu ,spain) and (viktor fischer ,denmark) and (Raheem sterling ,england) (okan aydin ,germany) and many more please put the young players in and there real faces PLEASE :) because in manager mode we can buy them please :)